Yes by law you are required to have a smoke alarm on every level of the home. Homes constructed before 1997 need a stand-alone 9-volt battery smoke alarm installed.
Residential homes constructed after 1st August 1997 or that have undergone a renovation or extension, must have smoke alarms connected to 240-volt mains power. Plus a back-up battery must be installed in the smoke alarm.
Residential homes constructed after 1 May 2014, or homes that have undergone renovation or extension, where there is a requirement for more than one smoke alarm in the home, all smoke alarms fitted must be interconnected (so that when an alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound).
There are over 20,000 house fires in Australia every year. Smoke alarms save lives when they are properly installed, correctly located and operating as expected
Smoke alarm inspections must be conducted annually
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021, state that each smoke alarm is tested according to the manufacturer’s instructions at least once every 12 months.
Yes - no qualifications are required for the inspection of the smoke alarms, however they do have to be maintained and installed in accordance with AS3786.
Smoke alarms must be installed outside all sleeping areas or bedrooms, and they’re also required to be installed near the staircase even if there are no bedrooms on that level.
A Residential Rental Provider (landlord) is obliged to ensure their premises comply with relevant building codes and regulations, including the correct installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) recommends that the smoke alarms in rental properties be regularly maintained by a contractor.
